Press



(No Model.) 5Sheets-Sheet 1 J. P. GUBBINS.

Press.

No. 243,369. Patented June 28,1881.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F. GUBBINS.

Press.

No. 243,369. Patented June 28,1881.

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5 sheet $411661; 3.

(No Model.) J.'P. GUBBINS.

Press.

Patented June 28,1881.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet J. F. GUBBINS.

Press.

No. 243,369. Patented June-28,1881.

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Press.

No. 243,369. 'Pat ented June 28,1881.

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WITNEE'SEBQ v Fig. 11, a top-plan view of the same with a rigidhorizontal UNITED STATES v PATENT Option.

JOHN F. GUBBINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,369, dated June 28,1881. Application filed February 1, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN F. GUBBINs, of Chicago, in the county of (lookand State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Presses, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to presses adapted for the compression of variousmaterials, but more especially adapted for pressing the watery andgreasy substance out of tank-offals, for pressing eoagulated blood inthe manufacture of fertilizers, &c.

The invention relates to a continuously-act in g press composed,essentially, of two endless traveling belts, arranged to present aconverging space for the passage of the material between them; and theinvention consists in various peculiarities of construction, and, amongothers, in providing the belts with transverse yielding slats or ledges,which co-operate with the belts and side plates to form closed chambersor spaces to confine the material under pressure; in the peculiarconstruction and arrangement of a feed-hopper and valve; in the peculiararrangement of brushes to clear the snrfacesof the plates of the belts,and in various details of minor importance, which willbe hereinafterdescribed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevationof the delivery end of my press. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation ofthe press 5 Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section through the centerof the operative parts; Fig. 4, a top-plan view, with one side shown insection on the line w x Fig. 5, a vertical cross-section on the line y yFigs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, detail views illustrating the construction of thecarrying-belt Fig. 10, a side elevation, illustrating the arrangement ofthe belts by which the chain surface is cleaned; Fig. 12, an elevationfrom the opposite end of the same.

A represents a rigid base-frame, provided at the two ends withhorizontal cross-shafts B and G, mounted in bearings thereon, and alsoprovided at the middle, between the shafts,

bed-plate, D, preferably constructed in a hollow form, as shown. Theshaft B is provided with smooth rolls F, and the shaft 0 provided withsprocket-wheels G. Around the pulleys F G, I pass an endlesspressing-belt, H, extending over and lying upon the upper surface of thebed D and passing back beneath the same, as shown in the drawings. Theendless belt H is composed, as shown in thedrawings, ofa series oftransverse metallic slats or plates, at, which are provided on the rearside with ears or lugs b, and connected withea'ch other by means oflinks d, pivoted to the lugs. The arrangement is such that the belt maybe carried freely over the bed D by the pulleys, and that it may passfreely around the latter. structed that as the plates pass over the bedD they fit closely together at the edges, formin g a continuous,unbroken traveling surface, which is sustainedand supported firmly bythe bed beneath.

At the forward end of the main frame it is provided with rigid uprightsH, which sustain the ends of a transverse shaft, 1. This shaft isprovided with pulleys K, and sustains one end of a horizontal swingingframe, L, the opposite end of which is provided with a crossshaft, M,carrying pulleys N. The frame L extends in a substantially horizontalposition above the lower belt, H, and is free to rise and fall at itsrear end to a limited extent, swinging around shaft I as a center. I

Around the pulleys KN of the upper frame I extends an endless belt, 0,similar in construction to that of thelower belt, H, before described.This belt 0 travels upon and is prevented from bending upward by thelower straightface of the frame, or bed of theframe, L.

It will be seen that by depressing the rear end of frame L the uppersurfacebf belt H and the lower surface of belt 0 may be given a greateror a less convergencetoward each other as they approach the rear end ofthe frame, so that materials entering between the widelyseparated bedsof the belt at the front of the machine will be subjected to a gradualincreasing pressure as they pass backward between the approachingsurfaces of the belts.

For the purposeof imparting motion to the belt, I mount at the rear endof the main frame, on opposite sides thereof, two vertical shafts, P,providing the same with worms Q and R, which act upon worm-wheels S andS, secured to the ends of the belt-driving shafts O and M, respectively.The vertical shafts are pro- The parts are so con- IOO vided at theirupper ends with beveled gears, and driven by corresponding gears mountedon the driving-shaft T, which is sustained horizontally in the top ofthe frame and provided with pulleys to receive a driving-belt.

By means of the worm-gear motion is communicated to the shafts O and M,which, in turn, through their respective sprocket-wheels, impart apositive motion to both belts, moving their adjacent faces backward inthe same direction and at the same or substantially the same rate ofspeed.

In order that the upper belt may rise and fall freely withoutinterference with the action of its driving-gear, the worms Q aremounted in boxes on the sides of the swinging frame L, and are arrangedto slide up and down freely on the driving-shafts P, to which they areconnected by feathers to prevent them from turning thereon.

For the purpose of preventing the material under treatment from escapingat the sides of the belts, I provide the main frame with vertical sideplates, U, which fit closely against the sides or edges of the belts,bridging over the space between them, and which are adjustable bymeansof set-screws V, as shown in various figures.

For the purpose of delivering the material between the belts, I providethe main frame, at the front end of the machine, with an elevatedhopper, W, the mouth of which delivers between the two belts, as shown.

In order that the material may not enter between the edges of the lowerplates, the hopper is arranged to deliver thereon at a point at whichthe plates standing in a horizontal position fit closely against eachother; and in order to prevent the material from working between theupper plates the hopper is provided with a deflector or guard-plate, X,curving inward beneath the upper plates, as shown. This guard-plate willbe made of elastic material, or hinged, in order that it may be forceddownward to permit the passage of certain transverse bars located on theface of the upper belt, as hereinafter described.

For the purpose of permitting the free passage of similar transversebars on the lower belt, the mouth of the hopper is provided at the underside with a hinged plate or valve, Y, having a weighted counterbalancearm, as shown, the latter intended to permit the valve to be movedupward readily against the weight of the-superincumbent material.

In order to apply the required degree of pressure to the material, andat the same time permit the yielding of the parts in the event of theentrance of solid material between the belts, I connect the upperbelt-supporting frame, L, with a weighted lever, Z, secured to the mainframe, as shown. This lever bears directly upon the logs or cars on theframe L, and is connected to the frame by links, as shown. The weightupon the lever is adjustableendwise thereon, in order that the pressureapplied may be increased or diminished, as desired.

In treating various materials it is necessary that they should beconfined closely in order to prevent their escape. For this reason, whenrequired, I provide the bed-plates at suitable intervals with transverseraised ribs A of rubher or equivalent elastic material, which may beconstructed and secured in any suitable manner. It is preferred,however, to construct these ribs with a groove or recess in the back,and to seat them over flanges cast upon the plates, as clearly shown inFig. 6. The ribs of the two plates will be arranged to act upon oragainst each other, as indicated in Fig. 3, so as to form closepartitions between the two belts, and thus divide the space between thebelts into tight spaces or chambers, which chambers will be carriedforward and gradually reduced in width by the movement of the belts.

NVhen treating those materials which require close confinement-such asbeet-root, which in other presses is ordinarily confined in sacks- Ipropose to cover the belt-plates with cloth, canvas, wiregauze,finely-perforated sheet metal, or equivalent material, the plates beingpreferably grooved longitudinally beneath said material and perforatedto permit the escape of the fluids.

For the purpose of removing adhering matter from the belts at the rearend of the machine, I provide for each belt a transverselyrcciprocatingbrush, arranged to have an intermittent rotary motion for the purpose ofpermittin gthepassage of the transverse ribs A.

As shown in Figs.10,11,and 12, the brushes B are mounted on transverseshafts at the rear end of the frame, and each consists of a cylinderprovided with four longitudinal lines of bristles or equivalentmaterial, with intervening spaces between. These lines of bristles aredesigned to act successively, one at a time, and the spaces between aredesigned to permit the passage of the slats A, which, striking againstone line of bristles, pass through the vacant space behind the same, andin this manner pass the brush, at the same time giving the brush aquarter-revolution and bring ing the next line of bristles into anoperative position. In order to holdthe brush after each turn, it isprovided at one end with a square hub, 0, upon which a spring, D, acts,as shown. The cleansing action of the brushes is rendered effective byreciprocating them endwise, this being done through the medium of leversE, which act upon collars on the ends of the brush-shafts, and whichreceive a vibra tory motion from a slotted cam-wheel, F, as shown.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The converging belts arecarried continuously and positivelyin the direction indicated by thearrows. The material, being placed in the hop per WV, passes downwardbetween the belts and is carried forward between their converg' ingsurfaces, being thereby subjected to a gradually increasing pressure,and being finally delivered at the rear end of the machine. Thetransverse strips A serve to retain the material and carry the sameforward between the belts in a positive manner, and, acting inconnection with the side plates, U, they form, in

effect, close compression-chambers, in which the material is confined.The weighted connection of the upper belt-carrying frame causes a.yielding pressure to be applied and admits of the belts separating inthe event of their being subjected toan excessive strain.

While itis preferred to construct the machine in its details in themanner llereinbefore described, it is manifest that the details may bemodified and altered in many respects which will readily suggestthemselves to the skilled mechanic without departing from the limits ofmy invention. The form of the parts and the arrangement of the variousdetails-such, for example, as the driving-gearare matters of secondaryimportance.

It is obvious that the upper frame may be fixed rigidly in position incases in which there is no danger of solid matter entering the press.

It is also obvious that the endless belts may be constructed of canvas,wood, or other suit able material whenever the nature of the material tobe treated will admit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is t 1. Thecombination, in a press, of two converging endless belts andsustaining-frames having flat continuous faces adapted and arranged togive each belt a direct support beneath its entire working-surface.

2. The combination, in a press, of two converging endless belts and twostationary side plates, arranged to cover or bridge over the spacebetween the belts and fit snugly against the edges of the same, toprevent the lateral escape of the material between the belts.

3. The stationary frame D, having a flat continuous upper surface, andthe sectional endless belt H, arranged to travel around said frame andupon its upper surface, in combination with the upper frame, L, havingthe continuous under surface, and the sectional belt .0, arranged totravel around the same and against its under surface at an angle orinclination to the upper surface of the lower belt.

4. In combination with the two converging traveling belts, the elasticribs or bars extending transversely across their faces.

5. The combination of the converging endless belts, the side plates, andthe elastic ribs secured upon the faces of the belts, and arranged tocooperate with each other, as shown.

6. In a press, two converging endless belts, each having a straightsurface from end to end, in combination with frames supporting the backof said belts and maintaining them in their straight forms when inaction.

7. In combination with the belts having transverse ribs thereon, thehopper provided with a yielding mouth piece or pieces to permit thepassage of the ribs, substantially as described and shown.

8. In combination with the ribbed belt and the hopper, the yieldingvalve Y.

9. In combination with the lower belt, the

pivoted belt-carrying frameL and the weighted lever Z, acting thereon,as shown.

10. In combination with the fixed and the movable belt frame providedwith wormwheels, the vertical shafts provided with the fixed and themovable worms, substantially as shown.

11. In combination with the belt-plates having raised metal flangesthereon, the rubber ribs or flanges fitting over and held by saidflanges.

12. ln'combination with the endless belts having ribs thereon, therotary brush, constructed substantially as shown, and adapted to beturned at intervals by said ribs.

13. In combination with the belt-plates, thelongitudinally-reciprocating brushes, substantialy as shown.

14. In combination with the endless belt provided with ribs, thelongitudinally-reciprocating and intermittently-rotating brushes,substantially as described.

15. In combination with the belt and the brushes having bristles andvacant spaces, a1-

ternated as shown, the levers E, cams F, and 7 -and intermediate'vacantspaces to permit the passage of the ribs, substantially as shown.

JOHN F. GUBBIN S.

Witnesses:

FRED. BURKHABT, GERALD BARRY.

IOO

